Food Grade Vs. Pharma Grade SuppLEMENTS: The OSTEOSYN DIFFERENCE
In this piece, we will be visiting the important difference between food-grade supplements vs. pharmaceutical grade. This distinction is very important, as it can help provide certainty in quality while choosing the right supplements to add to your diet.
What Does Food Grade Mean?
For something to be labeled food grade, it has to either be a material/ingredient that is safe for human consumption or a material that can safely come into contact with food products.¹ This means that food grade applies to both the product and the materials or equipment used to make that product.
While food-grade supplements are safe for consumption, that doesn’t guarantee their effectiveness or purity. In short, food grade only ensures that a product is unlikely to harm you—not that it will work as intended.
Why RETAIL Store Supplements Are Cheap—and What That Means
While shopping, you may find a huge price disparity between supplements. Some ranging between $10 - $20. You might even come across supplements in a dollar store for, well, a dollar. But just because something is cheap doesn’t mean it’s effective.
The lower price may simply reflect lower quality. Remember, food grade only sets safety standards, not quality. So, while you could buy that $10 -$20 bottle, the question is: Should you? When it comes to your health, investing in higher-quality supplements that meet more stringent standards is the smart choice.
Pharmaceutical Grade Supplements: Why Quality Matters
If you’re serious about quality, pharmaceutical grade supplements are the gold standard. These supplements must meet rigorous requirements, including identifying and quantifying every impurity.²
Pharmaceutical grade supplements are also held to a standard defined by monographs, which are detailed studies that outline the quality, purity, and potency a supplement must meet. These standards ensure that pharmaceutical grade supplements are effective, not just safe.
Expert Insight from Jana Hildreth
Jana Hildreth, Director of Technology and Scientific Affairs at Osteosyn, explains:
“If you are looking for an efficacious material, say for your joints, pharmaceutical grade supplements have purity, potency, and efficacy requirements in regards to dosage. Food grade supplements are just assumed safe for consumption, with no standards or monographs set.”
Osteosyn: Why We Choose European Pharmaceutical Standards
At Osteosyn, we hold ourselves to the highest standards. While the U.S. only requires supplements to meet food grade standards, we produce our Chondroitin Sulfate to the rigorous European Union Pharmaceutical Standard.
Chondroitin Sulfate is considered a drug in the EU, where stricter quality controls are in place compared to U.S. dietary supplement regulations. Although the U.S. doesn’t share this classification, we choose to manufacture our Chondroitin Sulfate to meet the EU Pharma Standard. This ensures that our supplements deliver both purity and efficacy.
If you have any questions about our purity claims, reach out to us at cs@osteosyn.com.
Final Thoughts: Making an Informed Decision
The supplement industry offers a wide variety of choices, but not all products are created equal. While food-grade supplements meet the basic safety standards, they often lack the efficacy of pharmaceutical-grade supplements. At Osteosyn, we believe in going above and beyond, producing our supplements to meet the highest possible standards, ensuring both safety and efficacy.
Give us a try! You will See The Difference Yourself!
References
Matt Krysiak
What Does Food Grade Mean and Why Is It Important? June 23, 2020
https://www.mpofcinci.com/blog/what-does-food-grade-mean-and-why-is-it-important/Vitality Aesthetic & Regenerative Medicine
How Do You Know if a Vitamin is Pharmaceutical Grade?
https://varmedicine.com/how-do-you-know-if-a-vitamin-is-pharmaceutical-gradeUSP
USP Verified Mark
https://www.usp.org/verification-services/verified-markFDA
Lead in Food, Foodwares, and Dietary Supplements, June 29, 2022
https://www.fda.gov/food/metals-and-your-food/lead-food-foodwares-and-dietary-supplements
